Page 55 of Pretend for Me

“I do, actually,” I say, moving around to face him. I lean my hip against the counter, aware of how this position brings us eye to eye. “I’m taking your sister to Disneyland.”

Dev’s eyes widen. “You’re taking Deena toDisneyland?”

I nod, enjoying his reaction all too much. “Yeah, we discussed it when I saw her yesterday. Your mom didn’t have a problem with it. The last time I went was with Rowan years ago, and it’s something I’ve wanted to do again. Deena said it’s been a few years for her, too, so we thought we’d make a weekend of it and stay at the park on Saturday night.”

“Just you and her?” Dev asks, and I can’t quite decipher his tone. Is that just curiosity? Surprise? Or do I sense some disappointment, too?

“Well, no . . .” I say, studying his face. “Ralph is going to come with us, since I know you wouldn’t like us going alone. I just figured you’re always so busy, so I didn’t ask.”

I pause for effect, barely suppressing a grin and hoping he bites. I’m already looking forward to making Claire’s wish come true.

“Unless . . . you want to join us?”

He ponders the question for a moment. “Yeah. I’ll cancel my plans.”

“Really?”My brows rise. Honestly, I didn’t think it was going to be this easy to persuade the workaholic I’m to be marrying. “Are you serious?”

He shrugs. “Yeah. We’ll take the jet. I’ll also have my admin make a call to our VIP tour guide to make special arrangements so we can have privacy and security during our?—”

“God,” I breathe, a little overwhelmed. I knew Rowandealt with needing security when he went to public places, but this is on a level I hadn’t considered. “Maybe Disneyland isn’t the right place this year?—”

“Peter,” Dev says, getting my attention. “If Disneyland is where you want to go for your birthday, it’s where we’ll go. I just want to make sure we have the privacy we need.”

“It just seems like a huge hassle now that I think about it. Maybe we can just watch a movie at home, instead.”

Dev’s nostrils flare. “We’renotwatching a movie at home for your thirtieth birthday, Peter. And it isn’t a hassle; it’s a matter of me making a single phone call.”

I twist my hands together, looking down at them, feeling a tightness in my chest I hadn’t expected. No matter how many times I’ve tried to catch him off-guard or entice him, the man knows how to turn the tables around on me.

“Thank you,” I murmur softly.

“You’re welcome,” he replies, just as Vajayjay decides she’s had enough of our tension-filled banter, getting up on her hind legs so her front paws are on Dev’s chest. She stares into his eyes deeply before licking his scruff.

I giggle, shaking my head at my attention hog cat as she settles back on his lap. “I’m not sure she’s going to let you even go back to work.”

Dev finds my eyes, and I’m not sure he’s just referring to her when he says, “Maybe I want to spend the day with her, too.”

A zing of electricity courses through me before I muse, “Lucky pussy.”

Dev’s brow rises, a smirk playing on his lips. “You jealous, Peter?”

“No,” I respond, taking a deliberate step toward him. His eyes darken, tracking my movement. I reach out, seemingly to adjust a few more strands of his already-perfect hair, letting my fingers trail down to his sideburns and his stubbledjaw. “Just waiting for my turn. But let’s just say if I was on your lap, you’d be walking out of here with your pants drenched.”

Dev’s tongue darts out, wetting his bottom lip, seeming to consider his next words. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

In a move I wasn’t anticipating myself, I scoop Vajayjay into my arms, carrying her out of the room with her siblings curiously following their sister. Placing them in the hallway, I ignore their protest as I close the door and turn the lock behind me.

When I return, Dev is still seated, studying me with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation, his hands tightening over the arms of the chair.

My voice, low and steady, despite the way my heart is hammering inside my chest, I answer his question, “Maybe we should find out.”

twenty-one

dev

Sweet and Wild

Sometimes I wonder if I’m my own worst enemy.

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